Beauty and the Dark (Jenn) - Finished

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belloobaskennels.com/amuni2.htm
The Alleyways. The small packet of grime and dirt fenced by concrete buildings, in a net work of strange patterns. Home to small populous's of rats, one may not find beauty in such a place. Nay, one wouldn't expect to find a beauty in this place. But there she was. Her fur draped over her lean frame like silk. Silk, sorrounded by rags of trash. She gracefully stepped through the dirt and who knows what. Not minding the stink of forgotten trashcans, or odor of what humans would throw in the bowls of the alleyways.

She was worried of other trash. Euclides stalked areas such as these, and raided opportunism that knocked at their door. The foul creatures wouldn't think twice about killing her.

As she picked up her pace she pushed the images of Euclides back into her head. She swung her beautifully carved head in the air and ran into an almost gallope.

"Somethings wrong." She thought. She slid to a stop and peered through the darkness. Something was there......

[Jenn]

Sergej slid quietly into the dirty alleyway, his head held low to the ground and his eyes scanning his surroundings. The darkness was pervasive, but his eyes were well-equipped to see in the gloom. The night had only fallen several hours ago and already he had chased an adult Euclides through a maze of streets and alleys, away from its unconscious human victim. From what he saw, the boy was a guttersnipe, covered in filth and dressed in rags. He had been perfect prey for the demonic hunger of the Amuni’s mortal enemies.

He hadn’t managed to catch the creature, which darkened his mood considerably. Winged Euclide were the bane of his existence, it seemed. There were limits to his hunting abilities alone and he knew them very well. In order to cleanse the city as it needed, he would require the full backing and support of a congregation.

Suddenly, from around a corner stepped a vision of loveliness. He froze behind a pile of filth, peering at her from the side and doing his best not to stare. What...? Had he been without sleep for too long? Was he hallucinating?

Perhaps. Perhaps not. Regardless, it probably wouldn’t harm him to reveal himself. She certainly wasn’t a Euclides. He raised his head and stood properly before stepping out from behind the pile in a smooth motion. ”Hello?” he offered, the greeting more of a hesitant question than anything else. It had been so long since he met up with another Amuni. So long...

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(I'm sorry my computer is being a little crap and I had to wright up my reply again)

Prehaps it was only her imagination. Or maybe the Lord was trying to tell her danger was lurking? Whatever the reason, there was, or so she thought there was, some thing near. She started to reverse prayers in her head, the Lord wouldn't let her die by the paws of a foul creature. Not now.

If it was an Euclides, she wouldn't show it fear. They crave fear, it is like a drug to them. She raised her head and puffed out her chest. she bravely took a step forward, she could make out something blue. Prehaps it was only a blue bag or rag?

Or not. When the canine creature raised its head and came out of hiding she gave out a shriek cut off by a gasp. She jumped back in disbeleif. She was not expecting that. Examining his hansome frame, she concluded that he was a fellow Amuni.

"Hello sir, fine evening we are having." she dipped her head in respect but still looking into his soulfull eyes. "I guess indroductions would be proper." she cleared her throat and began. "I am Asimabi. You may know me by Asima. And you?"

[Jenn]

Hard as he tried, Sergej could do nothing for a moment but stare. He had not expected to startle his vision so, but at least her action proved that he was no vision. Rather, she was a vision, but one of flesh and blood rather than imaginings. Elegant spidery markings would their way across her reddish frame, the pattern mirrored by her single adornment, a bright aquamarine leg band. He immediately recognized her as a Secret Amuni, the complicated patterning giving it away more surely than anything else.

Her greeting and introduction sparked his sense of propriety and he dipped his neck in respect. The formality of her words brought about a similar tone in him. ”Asima, it is an honor to make your acquaintance. My name is Sergej, a follower in the service of the Lord and his humble servant. The evening is fine in weather indeed.”

He hesitated to say more, slowly lifting his head from its deferential dip. ”What do you do this night, if I may be so bold as to inquire? In an area such as this, the options are limited. Do you hunt, perhaps?” His words were chosen carefully. He didn’t want to be forward, but at the same time, he was burning with curiosity.

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At the same time she observed him. His lean frame was perfect with his long sturdy legs, a bit of rainbow tiped his paws. The same rainbow like pattern was on his back in a wing like marking. His hansome blue face shun in the now scarce sun light. He was probably a promise, she noted.

She smiled at his words. "I am simple missionairy, preaching the word of God in disguise to humans." She proudly said. "I would bring outher Amuni into the grace of the church but alas I am not apart of any." Prehaps this male knew some Popes? Then she could work like how she was intended. Still, preaching to the poor misguided human souls in a large brown jacket was a wonderful feeling, and she wouldn't give it up for the world.

The flushed pink canine's head tilted to the side in a curious jesture. "Hunt.... as in Euclides? I don't beleive I have the strength." She confessed. She was a delicate thing, made to entrance souls into the word of God. "May I go far enough to ask if you are a member of a Church?" she said changing the subject. Thinking of Euclides would ruin the evening.

[Jenn]

Sergej smiled slightly at her explanation. ”Ah, a missionary. That would make sense. I do not often take the guise of a humanoid figure, but I admire those such as you who are willing.” The rest of her words washed over him and he moved closer, stopping a few feet away to sit down on a clearer patch of earth. The smells of filth emanating from all around them were strong to his sensitive canine nose, and likely equally pungent to hers, but at the moment he couldn’t have cared less. After months of searching this city, he had finally come across another Amuni. That in and of itself was enough to negate even the most unpleasant of conditions.

“You may wish to restrict your missions to the daylight hours, however. The hour is drawing late for one such as you to be out and about in this dangerous place. Monsters abound in the darkness, and without the protection of a congregation, it is unsafe.”

He sighed and curled his tail around his long legs. ”I am not yet a member of one, sadly. To be honest, you’re the first Amuni I’ve encountered in this city in months. I had begun to fear that our people avoided this place.”

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She nodded at him. "It is a very awarding job, I assure you." The smell was horrid for her aswell. Her nostrils flared with pain as the odor bombarded her nose. She tried her best to ignore it. She had smelt worse, one time encountering an Infection Euclides in a different alley. She was thankful it hadn't infected her with some horrid disease.

She nodded at his words. "I know, I was just returning to my monastery. This is a short cut I usually use. But I was alittle late when an inquisitive child wanted me to read a few passages from the Bible." she smiled happily thinking of the warm face of the curious girl.

Her delicate features frowned at his reply. "I am without a Church, or any outher kin." She said sadly. Well, they had a few things in common. "So sir, what are you doing out?" She raised an inquisitive eyebrow a playful smirk had formed on her lips.

[Jenn]

Listening to her, Sergej found himself touched by her innocence. The smile as she spoke of the young girl she assisted, her sadness at the lack of companionship and support...he hadn’t seen purity of this nature in an adult of any species for a very long time. Even he himself had been sullied by his duty, forced to endure and ignore suffering that wished with all his heart did not exist. He had the strong feeling that Asima would be unable to ignore that pain if it were to be placed in front of her.

He answered that playful smile with one of his own, his path for the night now clear. ”What I was about no longer matters, my friend, for there has been a change of course. It is my bound duty to see you safely and comfortably home to your monastery. Whatever your say on the matter, I will follow you all the same, and I would much prefer to enjoy your company as I do so rather than trailing along behind. What say you?”

Standing, his expression was playful but his stance spoke volumes for his intent. He would not be deterred in seeing this enchanting creature home. He could only hope that she wouldn’t make an issue of it and he could enjoy her conversation as he did so. This opportunity to take pleasure in the company of another was rare enough that he was unwilling to let it slip by without a token protest.

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As he spoke she smiled at his words. She was much to meek to come out with it, but it seemed he read her mind. She slowly rose and walked past him.

"Alas, it would be a great joy for you to escort me to my home." she said, still walking but looking back to see if he would follow. Every stance of her body beckoned him to come with her. "It would be nice to have someone strong to protect me from the demons, they find me...." she paused. "A target."

She became recalling the night she was attacked by two Euclides as a child, her father was a strong creature. She remembered how frightened she was with her brother. She got away from the claws of one of the wretched creatures. Now she bore the mark of her encounter. However it was hidden by her legband. Her eyes trailed down to her legband remember the horrible scar.

[Jenn]

Her words and the implications they carried sent a small chill down Sergej’s spine as he wondered how many times she had found herself a ‘target’ at the hands of those fiends. To be a pacifistic creature and have encountered them at all, surviving was a miracle in and of itself. He followed the path of her eyes to the aquamarine leg band he had noticed earlier and wondered what connection it had to any such incidents. It made him apprehensive to even imagine her coming to harm under their merciless claws.

He bristled just slightly and moved beside her, the defensive nature of the position clear. ”You may rest assured that no harm will befall you this night, Asima. I will guard you as fervently as I would any human under my protection. You will come to no harm while I have the strength to defend you.”

The canine felt a tingle down his spine as the import of his words sunk in. He had just made an oath to protect her, whether she realized it or not. Well. That changed the situation entirely.

”In fact,” he continued evenly as they began to walk, her leading the way as only she knew where they were going, ”if you wish for company or protection on any of your missions, I would be more than happy to volunteer my assistance. I can’t imagine that you stay to the safer districts of the city when you go to spread the word of God, and wandering in such places unaccompanied is extremely dangerous, especially if you are caught out late. Now that I know of your works and your solitude, it would be unthinkable of me not to support your efforts.”

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Asima smiled at Sergej's words. She already felt protected. She was a creature of the mind, made for answering the doubtful and remembering passages from the Bible. Her slender frame was not made for encounters with the 'devils pets' as she thought of them.

After his offer to help her she was silent. She had a surprised look on her face that morphed into a thoughful stare. "The last time I had a helper....." She began. "Was with my sister." Her head lowered to the ground. "She was killed by... Euclide." she hesitated before revealing more to this male whom she's just met. "They swore to kill me aswell." she sighed. "Something my father did about killing there leader's son, and swearing revenge on my family." she shook her head trying to remember their exact words.

Then as changing the subject, she suddenly squealed. "I reconize the graffiti! The fountain is near!" She suddenly bolted foward and stopped when the alley opened into the town square.

She walked slowly towards the fountain, admiring its beauty. Her paws clicked on the marble tiles. She turned around to him. "isn't it beautiful?"

[Jenn]

Sergej followed her to the fountain, his own nails making light ticking noises with every step on the damp marble. He had been to this place before, had even chased a young Euclides into the water before ripping it to shred. The water had run red that night, though every effort had been made to remove the taint of its body from the beautiful setting. These memories stayed silent, there being no reason to voice them and upset his companion. Such harsh realities should not be forced upon her, especially not after what apparently happened to her sister. They should have no place in her world.

Sworn revenge against her family was more serious still, but he put the matter aside for a later line of questioning, when they knew one another better and it felt less awkward. In the mean time, he would simply do his best to protect her from harm until he learned more of the story.

The almost artistic beauty of her markings made the wrought iron and marble of the fountain pale in comparison. He moved to dip a rainbow paw in the water, wiggling his toes and smiling. Fur hid a blush rather effectively, though if she looked close, she could probably see a hint of lavender under the sky blue. Such thoughts were silly and he kept them to himself as well. To her he simply smiled as he looked up. ”Yes, it is indeed. Your home is near this place?”

His own was further away, in an old abandoned church that had seen better days by far. No wonder he had never seen her before.

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She gave Sergej a playfull smile and looked up at the sky. It was turning quite dark. Her eyes trailed to the first stars of the night. "I often do my missionary work here often, humans like to gather around here they find it... romantic."

Asima made a graceful leap on the walls of the fountain. Her pose expresed thoughtfullness. her own pale pink paw dipped into the water. Her blue legband matched the water. It languidly floated around her paw, force from the nearby jets made it move slowly up and down her leg, revealing the tip of a nasty scar. She was now lost in her own memories, recounting the event that the scare told off.

Suddenly as fi she was in a trance, her head snapped up to Sergej. "This fountain marks the halfway point." Her soaked paw came out of the fountain and she shook it, careful to hide the scar.

She gave him a nod and slid off her perch. "Come, we still have a journey ahead of us. They are coming out to hunt now." She started to trot towards another alley. "Sergej." She began for the sake of conversation. "Have you always occupied this city?" Her head cocked and she looked backwords to make sure he was following.

[Jenn]

Sergej watched her talk and then go distant, obviously lost in thought. He pulled his own paw from the water and looked over at hers, just in time to catch the briefest glimpse of a scar’s edge under her leg band before she removed it from the water and resettled it where it belonged on her wrist. It made him wonder if she received it in the same encounter that stole her sister away from her. People like her shouldn’t have to look so sad. They should be laughing, always happy.

He mulled over her question briefly before answering, partly caught by the previous statement. Yes, they were coming out to hunt with the dusk, like oily shadows or stains on the night. His hackled rose slightly in response to the eerie feeling, but he put it aside for later.

”I’ve lived here for a few years, but not forever, no matter how it may feel that way. Time stretches and distorts oddly when you live alone. I came originally from a small village several days’ journey by foot from here, setting out from my Church of birth to find my place in the world, a congregation of my own. The first year was the most harrowing.” He smiled slightly at the memory. A young Amuni, just out of childhood, on his own in the world and serving the Lord as best he could. He was an awkward fighter in those years, still learning the ropes despite his earlier training. It had taken many years and a great deal of experience to get him where he was today. His greatest bane remained the winged demons. They had him at a distinct disadvantage, land bound and unable to catch them.

He turned back to her as they walked. ”What about you? Your words lead me to think that you originally came from elsewhere. How long have you lived in the city?”

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The slender creature listened to her companion, her ears perked to catch every word that came from his mouth. As they entered another alley a soft breeze blew in their face. Asima's nose flared from the sudden stench. She lightly shook her head and tried to get used to the smell... if it was possible.

She noticed Sergej small distaste for them. He must've met plenty before, he probably had grudges against certain indeviduals. It seems must Amuni have them today, pity. After turning her head away from him, she stared into the darkness pondering his question.

The delicate maw let out a soft chuckle. "It does seem like that. Forever." Her mind started drifting to the only thing that'll last forever, The Kingdom of Heaven. How good the saintly souls must have up there, bodies are only good for a small amount of time but their heavenly souls will shine for eternity. Her attention quickly snapped back to the prescence.

"Well, where to begin?" she started and her expressions flickered between frustration, and thoughfullness. "Well, my parents met in Italy, at a shrine devoted to Our Blessed Mother. I beleive it was at the Benedict Monastery, but God may correct me." she stopped briefly to gather up her thoughts. "After my mother was pregnate, the euclides sworn revenge on my father and such. So they fled hoping the Euclides wouldn't follow. So my siblines and I were born on the outskirts of England." She gave a frown. "But they followed. Now I fled here after they killed my sister."

Somehow, she was going against her nature. Secrets are always so... secretive. But this Amuni seems so easy to talk to. It might've been because she had been so lonely. Or it could be the trustworthy nature of the Promise type, whatever it was she enjoyed her company immensly. "I beleive I've been here for a few months or years, I haven't been counting. I heard a Pope lives here and I was planning to seek his protection, but alas I have not found him." she gave a small frown and scanned the wall to see the graffiti 'land marks'.